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Is there a Heisman hex in national championship?

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. — There’s a perception that Heisman Trophy winners whose teams reach a national championship game don’t often win those games.

That hasn’t been the case in recent years.

Three Heisman Trophy winners have won national championships in the last 10 years, Matt Leinert of USC (2004), Mark Ingram of Alabama (2009) and former Auburn qurterback Cam Newton. Since Charlie Ward won the Heisman in 1993 and led the Seminoles to the national championship, six Heisman winners have also worn a championship ring.

Danny Wuerffel of Florida accomplished that in 1996.

That has come after a 38-year period between Davey O’Brien of Texas Christian in 1938 and Tony Dorsett of Pittsburgh in 1976 in which a Heisman winner was part of a national championship team only seven times.

Since Ward, the teams of Heisman Trophy winners are 5-4 in national championship games.